Baker, Girardi, Joyner suspended for various actions against umpires

NEW YORK -- Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker was suspended for two games, while New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and San Diego hitting coach Wally Joyner were penalized one game each Friday after recent arguments with umpires.

Major League Baseball also fined all three undisclosed amounts. There is no formal appeal process for suspended managers and coaches -- they can ask baseball to take a second look if they believe special conditions exist.

Girardi was suspended for kicking dirt that landed on plate umpire Chris Guccione in the ninth inning of Thursday night's 2-1 win over Baltimore. Girardi disputed a foul tip that became strike three on Jason Giambi and drew his first ejection as Yankees manager, twice throwing his hat and kicking it.

After the game, Girardi said he did not think he did anything that warranted a suspension. He said he was "shocked" to learn baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson suspended him for Friday night's home game against Seattle. Girardi's fine was believed to be $2,000.

"I think if you feel there's an extenuating circumstance you can appeal it, but because of cameras and photos, the dirt clearly goes on his shoe. But that was not my intent," Girardi said. "You're not allowed to make contact with them, so maybe that's considered contact.

"I think the culture of life has changed. You know, I think respect has always been a huge thing in our world, but I think people tend to think that other people are disrespecting them more than it really happens, and I think that has become a big part of our society," he said.

Girardi said he did not consider submitting his own report about the incident to MLB.

"The report is not going to do me a whole lot of good, in a sense. It's not going to keep me from not sitting out tonight," he said. "You move on. I think I made my point."

"We've played short quite a few times this year, but I'm not going to go there," general manager Brian Cashman said.

Cashman said he was surprised when he heard Girardi was suspended.

"Having a chance to talk to Bob Watson and having a chance to then slowly review the videotape ... now I see why he suspended him," he said. "Joe Girardi did not intend to kick dirt on the guy at all but inadvertently it happened as he was trying to kick his hat -- not trying, actually, as he kicked his hat -- because of that, it forced Bob Watson's hand and Major League Baseball's hand to send a message on behalf of the umpires, and I understand that."

"I said, `Bob, there's no intent here.' I said, `He was kicking his hat.' And he said, 'Well, Brian, if it was directed on him like back in the day, then you'd be dealing with a longer situation,' " Cashman said.

Baker made contact with umpire Eric Cooper during a dispute in the seventh inning of Thursday night's 8-2 loss at San Diego. The suspension was set to start Friday night as the Reds continued their series against the Padres.

"I didn't see that I made contact with him, but he told me [Thursday] night that I did," Baker said. "He told me that I sprayed him with tobacco and I grazed him with my left shoulder. I was not trying to make contact with him."

Baker went onto the field after Cincinnati's Edwin Encarnacion was ejected by Cooper. Encarnacion had been called out on strikes in the seventh inning. When the Reds took the field after the inning, Encarnacion was at third base waiting to warm up when Cooper ejected him. Baker wound up getting tossed by Cooper, too.

"Edwin said to me that he looked at him the whole time that he was going out to his position," Baker said. "Why was [Cooper] looking at him?"

Baker said that Encarnacion gestured to Cooper, holding up two fingers, indicating he had missed two strike calls.

Baker said he was fined $1,500.

Joyner was penalized for coming onto the field to argue Wednesday against St. Louis. The former All-Star was scheduled to serve his suspension Friday night.